Rangers expected to buy out Brad Richards

GREENBURGH, N.Y. – Brad Richards arrived early at the Madison Square Garden Training Center for the Rangers' breakup day on Monday and left without speaking to the media.

So the team's de facto captain avoided answering questions regarding his expected impending buyout, a decision coach Alain Vigneault insisted has yet to be made while acknowledging the organization has difficult decisions to make.

The amnesty buyout period began at noon on Monday and runs through June 30 at 5 p.m., a day before the NHL's free-agent market opens.

"He was the first player I met this morning," said Vigneault, three days after the season ended with a 3-2 double overtime loss to the Kings in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at the Staples Center. "Obviously, we're going through the pain of losing and putting that in perspective.

"Brad's an experienced guy that knows we've got some decisions to make," Vigneault added. "They're not easy. We're looking at different things. He's going to be a pro and he's going to wait."

Richards 34, just completed the third season of a nine-year, $60 million deal. But due to the front-loaded nature of the contract — signed before the new collective bargaining agreement was reached – the salary cap-recapture penalties to the Rangers should Richards retire in the final three years of the deal when he is due to make $1 million annually would be $5.67 million against their salary cap.

Combine that with Richards' shaky Cup Final performance — he had just one assist in the five games and was demoted to the fourth line for the last two games, — plus the Rangers' need to free money to sign some of their other 12 free agents (seven unrestricted and five restricted), and it's almost a foregone conclusion the organization must use its second and final amnesty buyout on Richards.

Richards, who already has earned $33 million from the Rangers, had 20 goals and 31 assists in 82 regular-season games and stepped up his already-large leadership role when ex-captain Ryan Callahan was traded to the Lighting for Marty St. Louis on March 5.

"I think the package is together," Vigneault said when asked about Richards' off-ice contributions compared to his on-ice impact. "I think if you look at Brad's overall season, he had a real good year. In the final series, I don't know if it was a combination of some other guys playing a little better than he was, but we had some decisions to make in Games 4 and 5. I'm very happy with what he brought to the table."

Overall, Richards had five goals and seven assists in 25 playoff games this spring but had just two assists in his last 10 games.

The Rangers discussed buying Richards out last off-season as well after ex-coach John Tortorella also demoted him to the fourth line in the postseason then made him a healthy scratch for the last two playoff games.

"I'm a big fan of Brad Richards," Vigneault said. "When I got named [coach] last year, the first day I got named I went to meet him right after. I've known Brad from my junior days in [Prince Edward Island]. He's helped me out with my team over there during the other lockout [in 2004-05] and was a classy individual. So we'll see what happens."

Obviously, Richards' teammates don't have to balance the Rangers' financial books, and he's well-regarded within the team's room.

"I don't know what's going to happen but, in this dressing room, we all hope he's going to be back," center Derick Brassard said. "When Cally left and we didn't have a captain, Richie really stepped up and he was a great player. Hopefully he's going to be back."

Richards' silence on Monday, though, seemed to be just one more indication that will not be the case.

Rangers expected to buy out Brad Richards

GREENBURGH, N.Y. – Brad Richards arrived early at the Madison Square Garden Training Center for the Rangers' breakup day on Monday and left without speaking to the media.

So the team's de facto captain avoided answering questions regarding his expected impending buyout, a decision coach Alain Vigneault insisted has yet to be made while acknowledging the organization has difficult decisions to make.

The amnesty buyout period began at noon on Monday and runs through June 30 at 5 p.m., a day before the NHL's free-agent market opens.

"He was the first player I met this morning," said Vigneault, three days after the season ended with a 3-2 double overtime loss to the Kings in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at the Staples Center. "Obviously, we're going through the pain of losing and putting that in perspective.

"Brad's an experienced guy that knows we've got some decisions to make," Vigneault added. "They're not easy. We're looking at different things. He's going to be a pro and he's going to wait."

Richards 34, just completed the third season of a nine-year, $60 million deal. But due to the front-loaded nature of the contract — signed before the new collective bargaining agreement was reached – the salary cap-recapture penalties to the Rangers should Richards retire in the final three years of the deal when he is due to make $1 million annually would be $5.67 million against their salary cap.

Combine that with Richards' shaky Cup Final performance — he had just one assist in the five games and was demoted to the fourth line for the last two games, — plus the Rangers' need to free money to sign some of their other 12 free agents (seven unrestricted and five restricted), and it's almost a foregone conclusion the organization must use its second and final amnesty buyout on Richards.

Richards, who already has earned $33 million from the Rangers, had 20 goals and 31 assists in 82 regular-season games and stepped up his already-large leadership role when ex-captain Ryan Callahan was traded to the Lighting for Marty St. Louis on March 5.

"I think the package is together," Vigneault said when asked about Richards' off-ice contributions compared to his on-ice impact. "I think if you look at Brad's overall season, he had a real good year. In the final series, I don't know if it was a combination of some other guys playing a little better than he was, but we had some decisions to make in Games 4 and 5. I'm very happy with what he brought to the table."

Overall, Richards had five goals and seven assists in 25 playoff games this spring but had just two assists in his last 10 games.

The Rangers discussed buying Richards out last off-season as well after ex-coach John Tortorella also demoted him to the fourth line in the postseason then made him a healthy scratch for the last two playoff games.

"I'm a big fan of Brad Richards," Vigneault said. "When I got named [coach] last year, the first day I got named I went to meet him right after. I've known Brad from my junior days in [Prince Edward Island]. He's helped me out with my team over there during the other lockout [in 2004-05] and was a classy individual. So we'll see what happens."

Obviously, Richards' teammates don't have to balance the Rangers' financial books, and he's well-regarded within the team's room.

"I don't know what's going to happen but, in this dressing room, we all hope he's going to be back," center Derick Brassard said. "When Cally left and we didn't have a captain, Richie really stepped up and he was a great player. Hopefully he's going to be back."

Richards' silence on Monday, though, seemed to be just one more indication that will not be the case.